Critic Reviews

Here’s the thing: you’d get change from a tenner for Guardian of Light. My initial playthrough clocked in at around five hours, which is comparable to some retail games I could mention, but with so many challenges to complete and artefacts to find, I wasn’t even nearly finished with it. And the tale of two friends going tooth and nail at the top of the leader boards proves that there’s life in Lara beyond even the challenges the game throws at you. You will rarely find a game that offers such phenomenal value for money, even at full price I would wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s an exciting reinvention for a heroine whose light has unfortunately faded in recent years; an exciting parade of action, puzzling and exploration elegantly crafted with fresh direction, all while retaining that familiar Tomb Raider ethos. So there you go Lara, all you needed to get back on top was a fresh perspective, and just a little help from your friends.

Bottom line; you won’t find a better game on the Xbox Live Arcade this summer (perhaps ever) and you won’t find a bigger bang for your $15. Crystal Dynamics claims this is just a filler title between the larger 3D Lara Croft adventures but judging from the fun my friends and I have been having, they can make all the future Tomb Raider game just like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. I highly recommend Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light to anyone who loves action, puzzles, and great times with friends.

If you heard me talk about this game after E3 you won't be surprised: I still love it. The balance between puzzling, platforming and combat is, well, delightful. There are great bosses that test both wits and arsenal (can you say "fire-breathing dinosaur"?), a ready complement to the playful stages. This re-imagining of the badass archaeologist is gameplay centric, and while Lara's bosom and buttocks take a bit of a backseat there's enough attention given to her other assets to warrant the game's new perspective.

While the story isn't anything to write home about and some of the sound is borrowed from previous Tomb Raider games, Guardian of Light is up there amongst the best games on the Arcade market. Polished visuals and addictive gameplay ensure Lara's back in her rightful place at the top. With DLC packs and upcoming online co-op, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is simply a game you cannot afford to miss.

On average you can expect around 12 or so hours of the story, considerably more if you want to find and collect everything in the game, be warned though, there are certain rooms which once you go past, you won't be able to go back and collect a missed relic or artefact from. You'll need to replay the level from the start. With the added bonus of multiplayer cooperative action which is tied into the overall gameplay mechanics, challenge rooms that give you bonuses and artefacts, a likeable story and well paced plot, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light has finally pulled the Tomb Raider franchise back from the brink. Don't be put off by the fact this is a downloadable XBLA game, the production values, value for money and design far exceed this and it's worth every Microsoft point and hour put into the game's levels, be they set boss fights or sprawling puzzle packed multi-stage bonanzas.

Despite the fact that the game is $15, it’s packed with content. Clocking in around 6 hours long and that’s just for one play through, the game is packed with plenty of varying environments, collectibles and challenges that will extend that playtime even more with subsequent runs through. Out of all the Summer of Arcade titles, Lara Croft earns that $15 the hardest. It could be my favorite Tomb Raider game of all time, and it is something no fan should miss.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light exists due to the success of downloadable titles like Shadow Complex and Braid. And if this is a trend for things we're going to see in the future, I welcome it with open arms.

If you don't have a friend within driving distance, you may want to wait until Guardian of Light's online multiplayer is switched on; the game's single-player mode is competent but incomparable to the sheer joy of raiding tombs with a friend. Just be prepared for the inevitable arguments and subsequent passive-aggression when you grab a power-up your pal's already called dibs on.

Even if you're one of those people who has completely written off the Tomb Raider series, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is still worth checking out. The developers have made enough changes to warrant another look, especially if you're looking for a fun two-player experience. Just be prepared for a long way for an online multiplayer mode!

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an exceptional game that's in no way restricted by its modest price tag or status as a downloadable game. The ten to twelve hours here are an excellent value, but if you plan to team-up online you'll need to wait until September for a game update. It initially looks like an attempt to cash-in on legacy by tossing its leading lady into a dungeon crawl, but this new perspective turns out to be a great fit for the franchise.

Even the game’s length is satisfying, with a seriously meaty main quest and plenty of replay value (tons of mini-achievements are displayed at each stage’s loading screen, along with the shiny new weapons or power-ups you’ll get for completing them). Add to this the promise of Live co-op, and we have one of the summer’s best downloadable games. Heck, it’s one of the strongest games of the season, period.

If you don't have a second controller and a friend within driving distance, you may want to wait until Guardian of Light's online multiplayer is switched on; the game's single-player mode is competent but incomparable to the sheer joy of raiding tombs with a couch-side friend. Just be prepared for the inevitable arguments and subsequent passive-aggression when you grab a power-up your pal's already called dibs on.

In closing, this has to be one of my favorite downloadable games to date. With great game play, great co-op, tons of collectibles and a great price, you can't go wrong with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a welcome departure form the usual worn out Tomb Raider franchise. With a lengthy single player mode that features different puzzles to the co-op mode it is hard not to recommend.

Fans of dual stick shooters will be treated with possibly the most polished birds eye shooter in the App Store. It isn’t quite the old school Tomb Raider game that I was hoping for, but Guardian of Light is an excellent game that will please any Tomb Raider fan. If the price seems daunting, remember that this exact game can be had for $15 on PC, PSN, or XBLA. Half off the cover price seems like a sweet deal – don’t compare this to a typical iOS game for price.

Lara Croft has had more than her fair share of adventures, and some would argue that she's appeared in more than her fair share of games. Not all of those games were successful. There are many of them that most gamers would be perfectly content to forget. Yet there is something about Lara Croft that draws players in, release after release. Here in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, the developers remind everyone what that something is. By producing a polished and enjoyable game that knows what it wants to do and does it well from beginning to end, the people responsible for this effort have renewed hope that Lara Croft can claw her way to the top of the adventure heap once more. It'll be interesting to see what she does next.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is slight in terms of storytelling – the one area seemingly skimped on to keep costs down – but everything else here is worthy of a full retail release. Visually it's excellent, the campaign is just as long as recent full-price titles I've played and is different when played co-operatively, and the gameplay equally tests your brain and your trigger finger. Even when you’ve finished the story, competitive score-based play should keep you coming back time and again. The promised online co-op isn't yet available, but don't let that stop you picking up Guardian of Light. It's a fine example of how to take a popular franchise and make it work for the budget downloadable market.

In taking a chance with Guardian of Light, Crystal Dynamics rediscovered Lara’s latent potential. For those of you concerned with the direction this ancillary title has taken, rest easy. We now know that Lara Croft is as versatile as she is flexible.

At a nice price point and providing a polished product, Lara Croft makes a triumphant return from semi-obscurity. Clever level and challenge design with the promise of more to come makes this a contender for PSN Game of the Year status.

Lara Croft hasn’t exactly had it easy, and the Tomb Raider franchise doesn’t hold the stead it once did back at the turn of the millennium, but The Guardian of Light might be exactly what the series needed to give it a kick-start. It’s fresh, new and different, and it changes the formula to something completely new – and yet despite that it still feels thoroughly like a Tomb Raider title – even if that isn’t in the title.

I for one hope that Crystal Dynamics, Eidos and Square Enix take the lessons learned from this title and apply them to the next disc-based Tomb Raider title, but while we wait for that this is a game well worth experiencing.

In taking a chance with Guardian of Light, Crystal Dynamics rediscovered Lara’s latent potential. For those of you concerned with the direction this ancillary title has taken, rest easy. We now know that Lara Croft is as versatile as she is flexible.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is slight in terms of storytelling – the one area seemingly skimped on to keep costs down – but everything else here is worthy of a full retail release. Visually it's excellent, the campaign is just as long as recent full-price titles I've played and is different when played co-operatively, and the gameplay equally tests your brain and your trigger finger. Even when you’ve finished the story, competitive score-based play should keep you coming back time and again. Online co-op won’t be available until September, but don't let that stop you picking up Guardian of Light now. It's a fine example of how to take a popular franchise and make it work for the budget downloadable market.

I for one hope that Crystal Dynamics, Eidos and Square Enix take the lessons learned from this title and apply them to the next disc-based Tomb Raider title, but while we wait for that this is a game well worth experiencing.

With its first downloadable offering, Crystal Dynamics has come out swinging, with easily one of the best titles this summer -- digital or otherwise. More to the point, I feel comfortable saying that Guardian of Light may be the most fun I’ve had with Miss Croft in 14 years; it’s that good. Guardian of Light covers a lot of bases -- solid action, clever puzzles, nail-biting platforming, and remarkable cooperative play; it’s not to be missed.

The Tomb Raider series has been largely stuck in the same design and play style since the first game was released on the PlayStation One way back in 1996. It was therefore a very brave move to change the appearance to this degree and it’s succeeded remarkably well. The Guardian of Light has shown that a re-visioning of a long established franchise can make things feel very fresh and new, all without losing the overall feel that this is truly a Lara Croft game. It comes highly recommended.

Overall, this new Lara Croft game is a great accomplishment for the developers. I have really enjoyed all of the Tomb Raider games this generation, however, with that said, this breathes in some fresh air to a franchise some feel has gone stale. For me personally, I would still love to have the big blockbuster retail Tomb Raider titles and then in between those follow Lara on her adventures in arcade form. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is definitely one of the best Summer of Arcade titles for 2010. I can only imagine how much more fun it will be once online co op becomes available. Be sure not to miss out on this fantastic arcade title. It is well worth the price of admission.

Then, of course, there’s the current lack of online co-op. If you’re dying to play the game fresh with a friend and can’t meet up in person, you’ll want to wait for the patch. However, the game is so much fun in single-player that it’s easily worth a play-through in both solo and co-op. We’re really, really hoping the online component doesn’t have technical hiccups, because as it is, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a superb blend of twin-stick shooting, platforming, exploration, and tactical combat. Heck, we love us some traditional Tomb Raider, but we wouldn’t shed a tear if the next adventure for Lara was a sequel to Guardian of Light instead of a “proper” Tomb Raider.

GoL is a fantastic way to end the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. The only real bummer is that the online co-op is locked away until the other versions release. The content, excitement and sheer amount of fun re-imagines Lara Croft in a way that will ensure she remains a powerful force in gaming for a long time to come. GoL cannot come with any higher praise because it hits the sweet spot where value, fun and a well designed game converge.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light may not have the Tomb Raider brand in the title, but don’t let that fool you; this reimagining of the series sets the bar very high and I hope to see more from Lara and can only imagine the possibilities of a sequel on a full disc release. Pick it up and enjoy it and when the online patch comes out late September, play it all over again with your friends.

Guardian of Light would almost be worth a full price for the co-operative campaign alone. At 1200 Microsoft points - around £10, €15 or $15 - it's an instant buy. There are few download games that offer this kind of value for money, and few that are as clever or effortlessly exciting. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light might be a move away from the Tomb Raider name, but it's a tremendous homage to its spirit.

In short, Tomb Raider fans, action/adventure fans, and gamers in general would be well advised to grab Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. It is an expertly crafted, addictive experience that, while short, is easily worth the asking price. Especially in such a slow month for video-game releases.

At the risk of gushing, I really can't say enough good things about Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Smart, attractive and balanced, it scores a hit in every aspect and sports thorough thinking throughout. I really can't see much room for improvement, save for the fact that the online co-op wasn't ready at launch. While many players won't initially be able to experience the game the way it was intended, once the online patch becomes available, I would recommend it without reservation to anyone who's got at least one game-playing friend.

Focusing less on her tight tops and short shorts, Guardian of Light lets Lara do what she does best: kick ass, collect treasure, and decipher brain-bending puzzles. The addition of co-op and several other game-changing tweaks only serve to complement this can’t-miss formula.

In taking a chance with Guardian of Light, Crystal Dynamics rediscovered Lara’s latent potential. For those of you concerned with the direction this ancillary title has taken, rest easy. We now know that Lara Croft is as versatile as she is flexible.

Even if you don't have a friend to share your couch with, Guardian of Light is still great fun. The frantic battles, great art style, and tons of gameplay make Guardian of Light a great downloadable title. Even though the hefty 2GB footprint makes for a long download, it's worth the wait.

'Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light' is another breath of fresh air, not only for the line-up of arcade games on Live, but for Lara herself. This top-down action adventure game is beyond excellent providing several memorable moments that are a blast alone or better yet served up in its creative two player co-op mode. With the amount of detail, polish, and extras poured into this one is an easy buy. Given the charm “little Lara” has, I’ll be startled if Crystal Dynamics doesn’t follow this path again. It’s been awhile since Lara has had so much charm. These ones a winner and an excellent close to the “Summer of Arcade.”

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is definitely a rebirth for the Tomb Raider series. A meaty puzzle-based platformer that will definitely have fans asking for more, it is the perfect conclusion to this year's Summer of Arcade and 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) well spent.

Lara Croft and Guardian of Light is a fun and great controlling game. It looks great, contains solid gameplay, and has a wonderful sense of balance in almost every aspect. This complete overhaul of the Tomb Raider name has taken one giant step in the right direction from this rapidly declining franchise. Although you will need some patience for the online co-op functionally to be activated, the Guardian of Light is an entertaining game whether you play it solo or with a friend. It is a great way to conclude the 2010 Summer of Arcade.

Lara Croft: Guardian of Light offers a ton of nicely polished entertainment. It’s one of the most accomplished downloadable games we’ve seen to date, and it goes beyond the appealing graphics, on-point sound, and relatively long length. It features much of the professional refinement we just don’t normally see in the digital universe; such a clean production reminds me of Joe Danger’s sharp palette. The multiplayer suffers from similar problems but again, they’re minor, and it’s always fun to play with others. There are a few issues involving the camera, hit detection, and looseness or sensitivity of control and aiming but each of those drawbacks are minor. Those who are looking for a flashy 3D Tomb Raider adventure will have to wait but if you desire an old-school dungeon crawler with a modern sheen, this one is for you.

Lara Croft is a good looking and well balanced puzzle gaming experience that breathes fresh life into the aging franchise. The negative comments were not meant to dissuade gamers from purchasing the title. While the scriptwork was a bit melodramatic, I didn’t mind it since the focus stayed on the journey and its puzzles. However, once again I must reiterate, the co-op gameplay is considerably better than the single player experience. Unless you have a local buddy to come over and play with you, it might be best to wait until a patch comes throwing in the online support.

The only truly important thing that we can reproach is the lack of online co-op, something that should have been included on release day, but will instead be available at a later date through an update (although no ETA is available other than “soon”). Even so, the local co-op experience is excellent, especially if you use 2 controllers (although it’s ok only with a single one too, because you can make fun of the one using the keyboard) and the game length is longer than you would expect. The experience of the Crystal Dynamics designers and their investment to start this spin-off series on the right foot are certainly visible in every aspect of the game, and I can’t help but be thrilled by the new way in which we’ll be able to hunt ancient relics with lady Croft.

Lara Croft is a good looking and well balanced puzzle gaming experience that breathes fresh life into the aging franchise. The negative comments were not meant to dissuade gamers from purchasing the title. While the scriptwork was a bit melodramatic, I didn’t mind it since the focus stayed on the journey and its puzzles. However, once again I must reiterate, the co-op gameplay is considerably better than the single player experience. Unless you have a local buddy to come over and play with you, it might be best to wait until the online co-op gets patched in this September.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a great adventure, whether you're playing co-op or flying solo. Despite the silly story and dialogue, I had more fun with it than any Tomb Raider in recent memory. With a great new look, clever puzzles, and loads of fun stuff to collect, this is an extreme makeover for Lara of which you will surely approve.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a great adventure, especially if you're playing co-op. Despite the silly story and dialogue, I had more fun with it than any Tomb Raider in recent memory. With a great new look, clever puzzles, and loads of fun stuff to collect, this is an extreme makeover for Lara of which you will surely approve.

Lara Croft's return to the XBLA is very good, and as part of the Summer of Arcade series a welcome addition to the great line-up we've had thus far. If you're a Lara fan then you're probably not even reading this, however, if a little tentative towards the game, then don't be, as this is a well developed title well worth experience. It might be a bit simplified compared to it's older fledglings this generation, but this works in its favour as the game moves along at a steady non-frustrating pace. With added co-op sauce, and a distinctive look for the medium it's delivered, and you have a cracking game on your hands. Well worth playing and fully recommended.

Even though it doesn’t support co-op over Xbox Live (for now) and the plot and characters are a little weak, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is absolutely worth its $15 price tag. The game looks as good as many retail games (it should, weighing in at a 2GB download), offers a generous amount of replay value and, most importantly, is a lot of fun to play. It’s been awhile since I recommended a Lara Croft adventure and even though it might not be what fans of the franchise are expecting, it’s well worth checking out. It will be interesting to see what Crystal Dynamics takes away from this experience as they put together the next retail Tomb Raider adventure.

Yet through it all, none of these minor quirks ever keeps a good adventurer down. Guardian of Light plays out like a deftly crafted, fun piece of arcade-style shooting and puzzling expressly made for buddy co-op night on Live. Who knew Lara was such a team player?

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a great adventure, especially if you're playing co-op. Despite the silly story and dialogue, I had more fun with it than any Tomb Raider in recent memory. With a great new look, clever puzzles, and loads of fun stuff to collect, this is an extreme makeover for Lara of which you will surely approve.

Some may get stuck on the higher price point of the game but this actually isn't that big of a deal here. Unlike some Summer of Arcade releases, such as LIMBO, you're actually getting your money's worth. With more than a dozen levels in the campaign, about a hundred optional challenges, numerous collectibles and rewards to unlock you definitely get your money's worth here. If you can stand actually having to be creative in some cases and aren't put off by the multiplayer focus on the title then this is a must own game. Even the fair gaffe of the game not shipping with online multiplayer has been made up for by the free DLC that's being released soon so grab that once it's available and you'll be set for a great experience.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is one of the most impressive download titles to be released this year and is a stellar game in its own right. With excellent art and sound direction, engaging puzzles and a high replay value, it’s an adventure that you’ll be very glad you went on and a welcome new direction for one of gaming’s most enduring heroines.

Next, and this is important, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will set you back 1,200 Microsoft Points – about $20. Casting an eye over Gameplanet’s library I can quickly spot a cluster of 2010 releases that have retailed at $120 and offer substantially less. I’d like to believe that the publishers of those titles are shifting their weight awkwardly and avoiding eye contact this week – perhaps considering, if just for a fleeting moment, joining me at my humble table. There’s ample room, gentlemen.

The two must combine their abilities to solve puzzles that are different from the single-player puzzles in crucial ways. Solving these cleverly altered conundrums and fighting the emboldened hordes of enemies makes for a very fun time, providing you can get someone over to your house to play with you. The entertaining mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is perfectly matched with enticing rewards and engaging challenges that will have you tripping over yourself to replay levels again and again, especially if online leaderboard competition is your cup of tea. Cooperative play makes this adventure even more enjoyable, and though the disappointing lack of online support may sting for weeks to come, it shouldn't stop you from enjoying this impressive arcade adventure.

The two must combine their abilities to solve puzzles that are different from the single-player puzzles in crucial ways. Solving these cleverly altered conundrums and fighting the emboldened hordes of enemies makes for a very fun time, providing you can get someone over to your house to play with you. The entertaining mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is perfectly matched with enticing rewards and engaging challenges that will have you tripping over yourself to replay levels again and again, especially if online leaderboard competition is your cup of tea. Cooperative play makes this adventure even more enjoyable, and though the disappointing lack of online support may sting for weeks to come, it shouldn't stop you from enjoying this impressive arcade adventure.

The two must combine their abilities to solve puzzles that are different from the single-player puzzles in crucial ways. Solving these cleverly altered conundrums and fighting the emboldened hordes of enemies makes for a very fun time, providing you can get someone over to your house to play with you. The entertaining mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is perfectly matched with enticing rewards and engaging challenges that will have you tripping over yourself to replay levels again and again, especially if online leaderboard competition is your cup of tea. Cooperative play makes this adventure even more enjoyable, and though the disappointing lack of online support may sting for weeks to come, it shouldn't stop you from enjoying this impressive arcade adventure.

Even with the arcade feel in mind, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light still finds it necessary to force a narrative, and puts forth a goofy premise, complete with a manically laughing, awkwardly antagonizing, prototypical plague-god of yesteryear who’s got some destructive artifact that Lara and the naked Indian from Wayne’s World 2 (Totec) are trying to snag. This fiction does little to enhance the overall experience, and a more minimalist approach to a story and premise would have been more effective.

Once again the Xperia Play improves on what has gone before. This version is enhanced dramatically thanks to the phone's physical controls, although a few ugly graphical issues have snuck along for the ride, too.

Perhaps it's no major surprise that a twin-stick based re-imagining of Tomb Raider would work so well on iDevices, but Guardian of Light goes the extra distance with a challenging campaign and a fun co-op style for friends to enjoy.

At first glance, Lara Croft’s new outing may seem nothing like the Tomb Raider games of old, but it owes far more to Lara’s past than you might think and ultimately, forgiving the odd slip with positioning, plays like one of her best games to date.

But collecting stuff is what Lara Croft does. And when it looks and plays as well as this, there is a lot of enjoyment to be had. Although the game, quite rightly, spends very little time on the lightweight and fairly absurd story (evil god comes to life; good guardian comes to life; “let’s go get him,” says Lara Croft) the level design is fantastic. While not enormous, every section is tight and complex and brings back a lot of good Tomb Raider memories. Swinging across spike filled pits, rolling big balls around, collapsing bridges, all the while wearing short shorts and a really tight singlet, never really gets old, does it?

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a tough one to score. Whilst it does little wrong, it also fails to raise pulses. What the player is left with is a very solid game, with strong puzzle and combat elements that is well worth a look.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light serves up a refreshing change to Lara’s past adventures with just the right balance of puzzle solving and shooter action. A solid single player experience is complimented by sublime co-op play which makes Guardian of Light well worth a look for any fan of Miss Croft.

This is the best Lara Croft game I've played in years. Local cooperative play on a tested foundation with modern gaming sensibilities layered on top was absolutely the right way to go. Crystal Dynamics probably didn't need to use the Lara Croft name to make this little gem, but it's nice to see this well-known and well-liked character in something great once again. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an easy recommendation; go play, and bring a friend.

Regardless of whether Lara Croft: The Guardian of Light marks the future of the series or if is merely a side-project while the next full instalment is prepped and polished, it remains a remarkably successful experiment, and something of a bench-mark for downloadable gaming. The sumptuous visuals are married to engaging and addictive gameplay and there is enough content and collectibles to keep you playing for quite some time. Playstation 3 and PC owners were no doubt disappointed to find out that they would have to wait to get hands on The Guardian of Light, but now it is available we’d encourage them to take a look at what Xbox 360 owners have been enjoying for some time.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is nothing short of a triumph for Crystal Dynamics and the buxom adventurer. The score-based gameplay and objectives are geared towards providing hefty doses of replay value, but even a single playthrough promises to be an exciting journey filled with top-notch action and ingenious puzzles. And, in a rare turn for modern games, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is even better with a friend at your side.

I can understand why Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics might not want to put the Tomb Raider name on Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, considering the ways in which it diverges from the typical Tomb Raider experience. Hopefully, though, some lessons were learned from this enjoyable package for the next time they're ready to invoke the Tomb Raider name in a proper retail format.

The best Lara Croft game in years. Great local co-op action built on a tested foundation with modern gaming sensibilities layered on top was absolutely the right way to go. Proves that games needn't be huge-budget, cutting-edge releases to be fun.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light should please fans of the franchise while they wait for their next big Tomb Raider title. I also believe that this game will allow people who don’t normally like Tomb Raider games to be finally able to enjoy a game staring one of the biggest females in gaming history.

With sharp graphics, varied gameplay, great pacing, and strong value for the price, I’m not at all hesitant about recommending this title. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a highly successful divergence from the old Tomb Raider formula, and a strong closer for the Summer of Arcade line-up. I, for one, hope that we see more like it sooner rather than later.

All in all, though, if you need a dungeon-crawling fix with the supernatural, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light isn’t a bad way to spend a few hours. Lara’s back in a form, with solid controls, a look that works and environments the way we think about them when associated with the pretty spelunker. It might not be a Diablo-killer - it’s not nearly deep enough on any front or with the scope of Hell to fight through - but what’s here is entertaining and worth a play-through.

As a single-player experience, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is at best a modicum above average. It looks good, it sounds alright, and it’s sweet of the developers to have packed in the chance to go it alone, yessir it is. That said, it’s shameless that they’ve botched the delivery of the mechanism by which most players would otherwise experience it at its finest: online co-op. And I’m sorry, but the notion that adequate “networking code” has somehow eluded Crystal Dynamics – though only, oddly, till the PSN version hits – is, quite frankly, insulting. This is as clear a cut case of how console charlatanism killed the video game star as I can recall. And it’s a crying shame, because had it shipped with its unique selling point intact, I’d heartily recommend you all download Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light immediately. Without it, the buxom brunette’s first joint jaunt is half a game.

Call us old fogies if you like, but there's a pretty firm belief that when a game ships, it should be feature-complete, not "mostly done" with a promise of completion at some unknown future date. If and when the online co-op patch shows up for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, add an additional point to the score.

I was positively surprised by the quality of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. It doesn’t feel watered down like other ports, for example Resident Evil 4. There are some slight control issues, and perspective difficulties. If you stick to it you will soon find the same kind of find ‘em all mindset that for example Lego Harry Potter induces. I hope to see a reduction in price to get more people to experience the game, and give a larger fanbase for future ports.

Guardian of Light is a thoroughly refreshing take on tomb raiding, and – aside from the aforementioned control issues - has made the transition to iPhone surprisingly well. There's an impressive amount of variety to each of the ten levels, the puzzles are well thought out and an emphasis on score gives a great replay incentive. Persuade a friend to part with £3.99, and you can indulge in what is, arguably, one of the best co-op experiences the iPhone has to offer. A few control issues bring the overall quality of the product down, but that doesn't mean Guardian of Light isn't worth a look.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light packs a decent punch for a downloadable title. While there is a heavy emphasis on the compatibility of cooperative multiplayer, unfortunately the game is truthfully best enjoyed alone. With obvious likenesses to the Tomb Raider series repackaged with a new aerial perspective, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a great bite-sized download for fans of the video game vixen as well as new-comers to the universe.

I enjoyed Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light as an arcade game, but not necessarily as “the next Tomb Raider” game. Hopefully there will be more of the traditional games in the future and this doesn’t portend the direction the franchise is headed permanently.

As mentioned before, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an obvious port and will simply work better on a console. It confuses me to no end that game makers continue to make the same mistake over and over again, porting games to different platforms without making it fit with the destination. The Guardian of Light isn’t a bad attempt though, working well enough despite feeling a bit unnatural at times. The game can be bought at reasonable rates, making the lack of co-op and multiplayer features easier to swallow. Personally I think the switch from adventure to arcade worked out well for Lara, but a more careful port would have contributed to a better score.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a great adventure on consoles and PC but it just doesn't translate to the iPad well. It's got a great new look, clever puzzles, and loads of fun stuff to collect, but the onscreen controls are clumsy and the game doesn't run smoothly when playing cooperatively. Instead of trying to shoehorn console games onto the iPad developers should be taking advantage of its particular touch screen possibilities.

The storyline in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is forgettable. The controls are annoying beyond belief. I really wish they had been better. Most of the puzzles in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light are easy to figure out.

This is a clear departure for the series, and it earns some points for that. But facing down hordes of nondescript spiders and The Sacred Temple Of Gathering Eight Giant Boulders Into The Central Hub quickly gets old—especially for Tomb Raider fans.